Aeroplane propeller



Sept. 15, 1931. F. A. GUENTHER ,1

AEROPLANE PROPELLER Filed July 14, 1930 Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED. STATES FREDERICK A. GUENTHER, OF'LA GBA1 TGE, ILLINOIS AEROPLAN E PROPELLER Application filed July 14, 1930. Serial No. 467,769.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in aeroplane propellers.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an aeroplane which will 5 increase the air pressure with a reduced amount of power and at the same time increase the speed of the aeroplane with a minimum amount of power used.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an aeroplane propeller which comprises a cylindrical body having spirally arranged hollow fins which have their angles of pitch varied with respect to the outer wall of the body and the ends of said fins being offset so that the air discharged from the end of one fin will be directed onto the lower face of the fin next in order with considerable force to add volume to the propulsive power of the air.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an aeroplane propeller including a cylindrical body having spiral fins radiating therefrom with said fins disposed at predetermined angles of pitch relative to the exterior of the body and wherein these angles of pitch can be varied as well as the dimensions of the body and fins according to the size, speed, and power of the aeroplane on which they are to be used.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and ar rangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aeroplane propeller constructed in accordance with my invention with the fins on one side omitted.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation, and

Figure 3 is perspective View on a reduced scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein I have illustrated one of the embodiments of my invention it will be noted that the propeller shaft 1 has mounted thereon a plurality of bearing sleeves 2. These bearing sleeves have mounted therein the radial brace rods 3, the outer ends of which are connected to the interior of the cylindrical body 4 and its cone shaped outer end 5 mounted in the apex of the cone shaped end '5 is a fin 6 in which the outer end of the shaft 1 ismounted,

Beginning at the apex of the cone shaped end 5 and extending spirally around the end 5 and the cylindrical body 4 are a plurality of fins 6 which are hollow in cross section although fairly good results can be obtained with the solid fin having thin end portions. The fins are arranged at different angles of pitch relative to the end 5 and body 4. These angles of pitch vary throughout the length of each fin so as to increase the pressure of air behind each fin as it passes from one end to the other.

The fin that starts at the apex of the cone shaped end 5 is provided with a mouth porti'oni, and the 'fin at this end is disposed at a predetermined pitch relative to the outer surface of the cone. As the fin is followed around the cone it will be noted that the angle of pitch increases which will bring the end of this first fin upon the inside of the outer end of the second fin, thus directing the air, which rushes through this first fin, onto the lower face of the second fin with considerable force. This directing of the air onto the inner face of each adjacent cone with considerable force will have a tendency to impart a pulling motion to the entire propeller for urging the aeroplane forwardly.

The above operation is carried out in all of the fins throughout the length of the propeller body'and as the propeller is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 "the mouth portions at the outer end of each fin will receive therein a certain amount of air. As the air passes through each fin it is placed under pressure due to the inclination or pitch of the fin so that it leaves the inner end of each fin with a great deal of force. Therefore as the inner end of each fin is disposd inwardly of the outer end of the adjacent fin the air will strike the inner face of an adjacent fin with considerable force and urge thepropeller and aeroplane forwardly. s I

It will be noted from a view of Figure 3 that the inner face 8 of fin 6 is arranged on an incline or pitch relative to the outer wall of the cone and that as the fin is followed inwardly the inclination or pitch increases and this is true of each fin on the cone shaped end 5 and the body 4. It will also be apparent that during the revolution of the propeller air will also pass beneath or under each fin and due to the inclining of these fins the air beneath or back of them will also be placed under pressure so that when it leaves the inher end of each fin it will have a tendency to rush outwardly toward the inner face of the next fin and assist the air from the inte'-- rior of the fin in propelling the aeroplane forwardly.

It will be apparent that the fins could be of solid formation and still be arranged on an incline or pitch so that the inner faces could be used for placing the air under pressure for directing the same onto the inner faces of each. adjacent fin and force the propeller forwardly. It will be apparent that, while I have described the fins as of separate or individual they may all be cut fromone piece and the ends offset as shown, but still have the fins integral at the inner edge or where they connect with the cone shaped end 5 and the body 4-.

The propeller can be made of comparatively light material and of various sizes in accordance with the size of the aeroplane with which it is to be used and the fins can be varled according tothe pitch thereof so that the greatest amount of pressurecan be obtained from the air for forcing the propeller forwardly with a minimum of power to be used in rotating the propeller. This type of propeller can be used equally as well on the dirig-ible type of balloon or plane and various types of heavier than air machines.

llhile' I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be readily apparent that variouschanges can be made in the construction oi? the same when putting the device into practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Claim: 7

An aeroplanev propeller including a centra l cylindrical body having a, cone shaped outer end, a plurality of'hollow fins extend- 7 ing spirally around the body, one of said fins having its outer mouth portion disposed at the apex of the cone shaped end, said fins being disposed on an incline relative to the body with the inclination increasing from one end of each fin to the other whereby the meeting ends of adjacent fins will be ofiset from one another so that air passing through each fin will strike the inner face of the fin next in order. p

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy hand and seal this 21st day of June, 1980. FREDERICK A. GUENTI-IER. 

